This copy is for your personal non-commercial use only. To order presentation-ready copies of Toronto Star content for distribution to colleagues, clients or customers, or inquire about permissions/licensing, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com

London 2012: Indian gatecrasher says sorry for ‘error in judgment’

India&rsquo;s Olympic mystery woman has apologized for gatecrashing the opening ceremony in London and walking at the head of her country&rsquo;s confused delegation.

A mystery woman, now identified as Madhura Nagendra, walks with the Indian delegation during the opening ceremony at the Olympic Stadium in London on July 27, 2012. (GABRIEL BOUYS / AFP)

Fri., Aug. 3, 2012

NEW DELHI — The woman who gatecrashed India’s parade at the Olympic opening ceremony apologized on Friday for her “error of judgment” and said she did not breach security at the London Games.

Madhura Nagendra, identified as a Bangalore student by local media, irked Indian officials in London by her unauthorized presence alongside flag-bearing wrestler Sushil Kumar.

London 2012 chief Sebastian Coe confirmed her as a cast member and said she had been “slightly over excited”.

“In an error of judgment I resulted in walking with the Indian contingent,” Nagendra told reporters in Bangalore.

“Of course I have realized my mistake...I have not breached security which was stated earlier in the media. I have not trespassed, I have not gatecrashed.

Article Continued Below

“I’m part of the casting committee. Yes, I have hurt the sentiment of my people. I understand it was a mistake and I apologize for the same,” she added.

Television pictures and photographs from last Friday’s ceremony showed Nagendra walking in the Olympic Stadium dressed in red and blue in complete contrast to the Indian contingent’s female members who were wearing yellow saris and blue blazers.

More from the Toronto Star & Partners

LOADING

Copyright owned or licensed by Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or distribution of this content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Toronto Star Newspapers Limited and/or its licensors. To order copies of Toronto Star articles, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com